On Thursday morning, Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., said he would put his support behind McCarthy for the job, a Ryan spokesman confirmed to CQ Roll Call. His seal of approval will go a long way, as Ryan is one of the most influential members of the House Republican Conference who has himself been vaunted as a plausible candidate to fill Cantor’s shoes — including by the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal.

McCarthy has already been publicly backed by Cantor, as the current No. 2 Republican answered questions from reporters following his press conference Thursday afternoon.

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THERES’ THREE MILLION UNEMPLOYED FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN WITHOUT AN UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION SINCE LATE LAST DECEMBER. THESE FAMILIES ARE TRULY BROKE, AND BECOMING FINANCIALLY RUINED WITH EACH PASSING DAY. BOTH THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE UTTERLY FAILED THESE FAMLIES, AND HAVE TURNED THEIR BACKS ON THEM ALREADY, AND JUST WALKED AWAY FROM THE ISSUE. MEANWHILE MORE AND MORE ARE FACING EVICTIONS, HOME FORECLOSURES, BANKRUPTCY, AND HOMELESSNESS, WHILE WAITING FOR THE HELP WHICH DOESN’T COME. HELP AND ASSISTACNE HAS COME FOR THE UKRAINE HOWEVER. CONGRESS PASSED A FOREIGN AID BILL WORTH BILLIONS OF TAX PAYER DOLLARS FOR THAT COUNTRY. I GUESS IT’S ONLY THE POOR AND STRUGGLING HERE THAT THEY REFUSE TO HELP. THESE MILLIONS OF VOTERS WILL VOICE THEIR DISCONTENT IN THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Layla

I’m with you, even if your computer key is stuck on caps. But you’ve got to get everyone you know out to vote. Everyone. Nobody can stay home this time.

Layla

Predictable, Ryan. Too predictable. What an empty, progressive suit you have turned out to be and certainly no friend to American families.

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About 218

218 will tell you what the House is up to, and why. It will analyze the effectiveness of Democrats and Republicans and how their actions will affect each party writ large.